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The Forbes Travel Guide, an esteemed global authority on luxury travel, has unveiled its prestigious 2025 Star Award winners. This year’s accolades celebrate the finest hotels, restaurants, spas, and ocean cruise ships across the globe, with a special focus on two outstanding properties in Hanoi’s bustling downtown area. The Capella Hanoi, a visionary hotel with funky spaces designed by architect Bill Bensley, pays homage to the city’s rich history and its proximity to the iconic opera house. Guests are immersed in a captivating 1920s opera-themed experience throughout their stay. Alongside the Capella Hanoi, the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi has also attained the coveted five-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide for 2025. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional service, stunning architecture, and immersive guest experiences. Speaking of the Capella Hanoi, Forbes Travel Guide commends its architecture and interior design, masterfully crafted by Bill Bensley, tha...

On the morning of Thursday last week, a meeting was convened between tournament organizers and the Vietnamese cycling team to address the truck fire that caused extensive damage to their equipment. A mutual agreement was reached, wherein the Vietnamese team would borrow bikes from the host team and other participating teams for the duration of the competition. Additionally, the organizers took initiative by gathering information about the cyclists’ sizes, as well as their needs for helmets and shoes, to ensure they were provided with suitable gear. Thailand’s Vietnam Motorcycle and Bicycle Association has stepped up to the challenge, offering seven individual time trial bikes and helmets for the Vietnamese team’s use, along with ongoing efforts to procure shoes and pedals by Thursday. In parallel, the association is expediting the shipment of road bikes from Vietnam, expected to arrive in Thailand on February 10, ensuring a timely solution. A critical aspect of the meeting was the...

The annual commemoration of the Hung Kings’ anniversary, as announced by the People’s Committee of Phu Tho Province, will be a two-part event this year, consisting of solemn worship rituals and vibrant celebrations. The Hung Kings Commemoration Day honors the legendary founders of the nation and fosters patriotism. Photo: Ngoc Tu/The Hanoi Times On April 3, a ceremony will be held at the Hung Kings Temple National Historic Site to commemorate Great Father Lac Long Quan and Great Mother Au Co. This will be followed by the Hung Kings Incense and Flower Offering Ceremony on April 7 at the relief sculpture, “Uncle Ho Talks with Officials and Soldiers,” located within the same historic site. Additionally, from March 29 to April 2, districts, towns, and cities across Phu Tho Province will organize incense-offering ceremonies to pay respect to the Hung Kings. As part of the “Phu Tho Culture Tourism Week 2025,” the celebrations will showcase 22 cultural activities, including a...

The unexpected success of Morocco in reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals has sparked a wave of optimism across the continent, with many believing that an African nation lifting the trophy is no longer a distant dream. Benjamin Balkin, co-founder of Eyeball, a digital platform launched in 2020, shares this sentiment and believes that his platform could be a pivotal factor in making this a reality. Describing himself light-heartedly as a “failed footballer,” Balkin’s own experiences as a youth player at Monaco, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Yaya Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor, fueled his passion for creating a platform that showcases talent that might otherwise be overlooked. This passion led to Eyeball’s investment in the United Future League, an Under-19 championship for Senegalese academies, as well as providing video cameras to 5,000 youth coaches worldwide. The coaches film training sessions and tag individual players, with the footage then uploaded to the platform....

Real Madrid and Manchester City will face off in a highly anticipated Champions League knockout tie for the fourth consecutive year. Both teams failed to secure a top-eight finish in the new league-phase format, with Real placing 11th and City a disappointing 22nd. The two powerhouses will now compete in a two-legged playoff, along with the teams that finished 9th to 24th, for a spot in the coveted last 16. The rivalry between Real and City has intensified in recent years, with this being their fourth knockout tie since 2020. City boss Pep Guardiola expressed his sentiments on the draw, stating, “It feels like a derby already, four years in a row facing Real Madrid.” Guardiola also acknowledged the difficulty of the matchup, noting that both Real and Bayern Munich would have been tough opponents. He added that his team hopes to arrive at the first leg in good form and carry that momentum into the second leg in Madrid. Real Madrid, on the other hand, remain confident. Despite their ...

The Giong Festival, an annual celebration honoring the legendary hero Thanh Giong, kicked off on February 3, 2025, at the Soc Son Temple National Special Relic Site. Ha Minh Hai, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, commenced the festival by offering incense to Thanh Giong in a solemn ceremony. Located about 30 kilometers from downtown Hanoi, in the suburban district of Soc Son, the Soc Son Temple holds significant cultural and historical value. According to folklore, Thanh Giong, also known as Saint Giong, was an infant from Phu Dong Village who rapidly grew into a formidable man within a few months. He bravely fought and defeated the Chinese invaders, bringing peace to the nation. As a tribute to his valor and sacrifice, the people deified him as Genie Giong and instituted the annual Giong Festival to express their gratitude and honor his legacy. This three-day festival, held from the 6th to the 8th of the first lunar month, features a plethora of traditional rituals and ...